When Dealing With Clients, The Details Matter

Julie Starr • Sep 22, 2021



Have you ever been truly impressed by the standard of service you’ve received? It might be that it seemed that the customer representative really took the time to get to the heart of your issue, or perhaps a lenient returns policy was enacted thanks to the good graces of a store owner in your local area. 

The passing business we give to small firms as a customer is one thing, but having that prolonged feeling of worthwhile service and care when interacting as a client is a whole different kettle of fish. You feel this more often when in a service industry, such as being offered a tea before your great haircut, or when a waiter really dotes on your table. 

Yet as a corporate manager, applying this level of service to our prolonged clients can be tough. They’re individuals after all, and individuals have different tastes or may need to be convinced of the standards of your service before they give you repeat (and sometimes very lucrative) business.

When dealing with clients, the details matter. Here’s how and why we should consider that:

 

Introductions & Onboarding

How you receive a client into your firm can be essential. It’s important not to assume they know the ins and outs of your firm. An introduction should also be a sales pitch. Allow them to tour your facilities, or showcase your process. Onboarding , as in easily structuring an account for them with consent, giving them login information, allowing them to track every holding they have with you, all of this can be key. This is why your website as a hub of your business should be invested in, because it will allow convenience within our interconnected world.

Support, Questions & Intrigue

It’s incredibly important to make sure that the support capabilities you have will adequately field client questions. This means training your staff in the frequently asked questions they’re likely to get, while also giving them the autonomy necessary to search for solutions and provide a flexible response.  Great quality customer service is one of the pillars of any successful company, and making sure your clients receive all the assistance they need will be the deciding factor on the reputation of your company. However, luckily there are more than a few useful tools that will be able to help you in the customer service department. For example, suppose you offer veterinary services. In that case, having a veterinarian answering service take care of your incoming calls can save a lot of time and effort!

It’s also a great idea to inspire intrigue within your clients, by making them aware of how processes could be linked to additional services, without coming across as upselling every single time. The more you can make the use of your services entertaining and interesting to be part of (often emphasized by those in your industry who do this really well), the more likely someone is to stick around.

Logistics & Transport

How your firm manages the logistics of its interaction with clients, and how it transports clients too, can make a massive difference. For instance, corporate transportation can not only provide you with a sleek but dependable experience that reflects well on your firm. Where other firms see a logistical necessity that needs to be invested in as the cost of business, you can use this as another element that helps curate your client list while keeping your principles clearly visible.

With this advice, we hope you can create and sustain clients by focusing on the details.

Simple Steps To Make Your Office Space More Eco-Friendly

By Julie Starr • 07 Oct, 2024
Becoming more eco-friendly and running a greener business is a responsibility that business owners really need to think more about. The good news is that if you spend a lot of time in your office, there are plenty of ways to make it more eco-friendly without having to overhaul everything and start again (which isn’t just disruptive, but expensive too). So, if you’re ready to get started, here are some simple steps to make your office space more eco-friendly; read on to find out more. Use Energy-Efficient Lighting This idea is a simple one that you can do no matter what else might be on your list of tasks - it’s quick, easy, and really makes a difference; change your light bulbs to something more energy efficient. If you’re still using traditional fluorescent bulbs, it’s time to upgrade to LED which doesn’t just last longer, but also uses a lot less energy. They’re easy to install and they’ll help you cut down on your office’s energy usage almost instantly. If possible, you should make the most of natural light too, so think about rearranging your workspace to let in more sunlight, which saves energy and can boost your mood - it’s a win-win that you can do right away. Prioritize Air Quality The air you breathe matters, and keeping it clean can do wonders for your health and the planet. One way to improve air quality is by adding plants to your workspace because plants are natural air purifiers, and as a bonus, they’ll make your office feel more inviting. Another great idea is to make sure your office’s HVAC system is working efficiently, and having air duct cleaning done by professionals is an easy step you can take to improve air quality and ensure your heating and cooling systems aren’t wasting energy. Clean air ducts mean cleaner air, less strain on your system, and even lower energy bills, so it’s a simple but really effective thing to do. Switch To Reusable Products If your office is still stocking up on single-use plastic items, it’s time for a change - swap your disposable cups, utensils, and plates for reusable ones and you’ll be surprised at how much waste to eliminate. And what about encouraging people to bring their own mugs and water bottles to work? Give them tea, coffee, and water to refill everything with, and you’ll be doing your bit to help the planet and have less waste to deal with as well. And don’t stop with these things either - there are loads of reusable products that could be useful in your office. You could have refillable pens and ink cartridges for your printer, for example. Go Paperless Speaking of your printer, is that an office machine you actually need? If you were to go digital and aim for a paperless office , you might be able to do away with the printer, which means less money spent on ink and paper, and less energy used altogether. You should be able to set up a system where documents can be shared online and stored electronically, and there are plenty of tools around to help you do exactly that (and much more). If you don’t need to print something and you don’t need a physical copy of a document, don’t make one - just use the digital version instead and you’ll be a lot more eco-friendly.

3 Most Unsustainable Industries & What They're Doing To Be More Eco-Conscious

By Julie Starr • 04 Oct, 2024
Sustainability often gets pushed on the common person. Joe Public is told to be more sustainable with their daily habits as the government pushes for more eco-friendly measures. This is all well and good - but does it really matter when 71% of greenhouse gas emissions come from just 100 companies around the world? Small business owners are desperate to prove their sustainability, but what are bigger companies in some of the most polluting industries doing to help? We’ve taken three of the least sustainable sectors on the planet and explored the unique ways they’re trying to cut down on emissions and be more eco-friendly. Mining Any industry revolving around drilling underground will not be very environmentally friendly! Mining causes a lot of pollution, but its unsustainability often comes from the way it damages local environments and ecosystems. So, what is this industry doing to change things? It’s largely focusing on more responsible mining practices to reduce waste and mitigate the impact on local environments. This is done through mining dust suppression systems to prevent airborne pollution, reforesting mining sites when they’re no longer in use, and recycling as many materials as possible. Is it perfect? No, but it’s a step in the right direction. Fossil Fuels Shock horror; the fossil fuels industry is the most damaging to our environment. Finding ways to change the scope of this sector is the key to ensuring a better future for all. Some companies in this industry are trying to do this through carbon capture and storage. This is a technique where CO2 emissions are captured before they’re released into the atmosphere and stored underground. Realistically, the main thing fossil fuel companies should be doing is pushing for more renewable energy sources. Many are doing this - though reports suggest they’re not investing as much as they should. If fossil fuel companies dumped more money into developing biofuels and other renewable sources, pollution from this industry would drop dramatically. Fashion The most unbelievable stat to take from this post is that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of our global carbon footprint . That’s remarkable (and worrying), considering how most of us don’t view it as a “dangerous” industry. Fast fashion is the main problem; poorly-made goods are pumped out at a rapid rate, and consumers constantly buy new things. Fashion companies are trying their best to resolve this. Most big brands will now have sustainable lines using recyclable materials. Consumers also hold the key to solving this problem: stop buying new clothes all the time and wear yours for longer. Or buy pre-owned clothes to slow down the fashion production line. Companies can still do more as well: they are trying to adopt more eco-friendly production processes that use less water and energy. The moral of this post is that everyone can do their bit to fight for a more sustainable future. Keep this in mind for your small business . It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in; there will always be ways to promote eco-friendly practices.
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